AUSTIN — Haas arrived in Austin hoping to placed on efficiency for his or her followers of their dwelling race, the USA Grand Prix.
Thus far, so good.
Kevin Magnussen completed seventh, and Nico Hülkenberg got here in behind him in eighth, giving Haas a double-points consequence within the F1 Dash Race right here on the Method 1 United States Grand Prix.
The crew got here to Austin optimistic {that a} set of upgrades would show helpful down the closing stretch, and the consequence right here within the F1 Dash Race would point out that the brand new package deal is working. Nevertheless, following the F1 Dash Race in response to a query from SB Nation, Hülkenberg famous that Magnussen was not utilizing the upgraded package deal but, and even with out it, each automobiles had been robust.
“I imply it’s very constructive, clearly, to attain with each automobiles. However you see even not the upgraded automobile that Kevin drove goes fairly robust as effectively. So, I don’t suppose it’s a giant issue,” stated Hülkenberg. “However we glance aggressive, so hopefully we will proceed that pattern.”
Now the crew faces an enchanting choice, whether or not to put in the upgraded package deal on Magnussen’s automobile — and have him head into qualifying with out having an opportunity to check the brand new parts — or to maintain issues as they’re.
Magnussen appeared of a break up thoughts when talking with the media, together with SB Nation, following the F1 Dash Race.
“That’s the plan [to switch to the new specification],” stated Magnussen. “However I feel that will likely be conversations after the race. We assume that the improve is healthier and the info is supporting that. However it’s nonetheless sort of a bit uncomfortable altering your automobile utterly after two good classes like this.”
Magnussen was then requested how robust it will be to enter qualifying later at this time with the upgraded package deal, and the driving force outlined the tough stability he would face.
“Even when you’ve got extra downforce with the upgraded automobile, you may fall out of your stability window, and going straight into qualifying, that’s not nice.
“So it’s a little bit of a threat I might say, however we would like that additional downforce and because the knowledge is supporting that, I feel we’ve got to.”
Haas has little time to have a good time this double-points consequence, and even much less time to decide relating to Magnussen’s VF-24, earlier than Qualifying for the USA will get underway in just below three hours.
